lawbreaking 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of lawbreakingnext
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lawbreaking

2 of 2

noun

1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lawbreaking
Noun
Similarly, Newport Beach had warned partygoers to avoid lawbreaking before the takeover. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 These are discrete allegations of lawbreaking, and any remedy must match their magnitude. — David B McGarry, Oc Register, 8 July 2026 Leifman has been leading the charge for a facility that judges could use as an alternative to Miami-Dade’s jails for people whose mental illnesses seem to be the main driver behind their lawbreaking. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 Both Goss and DeVries agreed senior citizens should notify police if residents have been victims of scams or have concerns before moving ahead with possible lawbreaking schemes. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 In an effort to send a message to any minors planning to descend on the Jersey Shore for a weekend of lawbreaking and recklessness, Vaz is vowing to prosecute both the offending child and their parents. — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026 These criminal employers profit from lawbreaking. — CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 The sponsor of the employer crime bill said that lawbreaking was wrong and the bill is constitutional. — Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 Barack Obama pledged to look forward and not backwards, not only closing the door on prosecutions for executive lawbreaking but also failing to hold accountable those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing Great Recession. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaking
  1. criminal
  2. crime
  3. criminality
  4. rebellious
  5. violation
  6. illicit
  7. sin
  8. felony
Adjective
  • Also Sunday, prosecutors ordered a 48-hour detention of Marko Kricak, Vucic's chief of criminal police.
    — MARKO DROBNJAKOVIC, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Linn County prosecutors did not file criminal charges, but the church would not allow Moore to work with children, youth and vulnerable adults.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • Republicans, however, could take advantage of Newsom’s action and cast him as a soft-on-crime liberal who is out of touch with most Americans, which risks turning away moderate voters.
    — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Eisenberg was sworn in as assistant attorney general in charge of the department's National Security Division in June 2025 and oversaw cases involving espionage, terrorism, export control violations, cyber crimes and other matters.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Shame, disgust, anger, sadness and confusion equally course through Lucy, who starts wondering about the extent of Philip’s criminality.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His office published statistics showing that the county jails were overwhelmingly filled with undocumented immigrants as proof of their criminality.
    — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminality
Adjective
  • With its choppy layers, tousled texture, and extra length at the nape, this wolf cut brought a rebellious twist to her usual regal aesthetic.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The selection also features Dutch director Sabine Lubbe Bakker’s Premier Souffle, exploring whether a rebellious outsider can find her place in the world after years of isolation from her community.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Noun
  • The Lakers, playing with Sexton as their primary ballhandler during the stretch, had four turnovers during the drought, including a shot clock violation after a timeout.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The building didn’t just fall into disrepair but was legally condemned by the town of Branford due to fire safety and other code violations.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of violation
Adjective
  • The panel is like a scene sculpted in marble commemorating obsessive and illicit love; in such instances, the loss of the object of desire feels like an amputation, because the unobtainable lover is an extension and part of oneself.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The probe could mark the start of a tougher response to illicit operators occupying sites, following years of complaints from some of the world’s biggest mining companies.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of illicit
Noun
  • The youngster replaced Feyi-Waboso, who was hurt from Angus Bell's hip-drop tackle that earned the prop 10 minutes in the sin-bin, and made an instant impact with a left-wing surge that set up Van Poortvliet’s try.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Some would argue that Paxton’s sins are more exotic than those of your ordinary Texan.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • In June, Indiana prosecutors charged Kevin Singh with felony stalking and intimidation and misdemeanor harassment in a case involving Cunningham.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Raybould noted Demby has been arrested before on felony charges.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of felony

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lawbreaking
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Cite this Entry

“Lawbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaking. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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